Italian Wine

Wine in Italy is as much an integral part of everyday culture as love, family, cuisine and using hand gestures when speaking. There is a long relationship with wine, and its history dates back thousands of years. Ancient cultures such as the Mesopotamians, Phoenicians and Moors all came to Italy at one point, bringing in vines and methods of wine-making. The Greeks in particular had a large impact on what would transition into the Etruscan and Roman passion for wine. They settled in southern Italy in the 7th and 8th centuries BC, finding the conditions in the region perfectly suited to viticulture. They called their new territories “Oenotria,” which translates to “land of wine.”

The Romans improved on many Greek wine-making traditions, such as updating grape presses, using props and trellises in the fields, aging wines in wooden casks, and using sealed containers with corks to store and present the wine. They also understood which grapes were best suited to certain soils Read more »

Wine in Italy is as much an integral part of everyday culture as love, family, cuisine and using hand gestures when speaking. There is a long relationship with wine, and its history dates back thousands of years. Ancient cultures such as the Mesopotamians, Phoenicians and Moors all came to Italy at one point, bringing in vines and methods of wine-making. The Greeks in particular had a large impact on what would transition into the Etruscan and Roman passion for wine. They settled in southern Italy in the 7th and 8th centuries BC, finding the conditions in the region perfectly suited to viticulture. They called their new territories “Oenotria,” which translates to “land of wine.”

The Romans improved on many Greek wine-making traditions, such as updating grape presses, using props and trellises in the fields, aging wines in wooden casks, and using sealed containers with corks to store and present the wine. They also understood which grapes were best suited to certain soils and climates, and attempted to plant accordingly. But they also used additives to “improve” them that would be frowned upon now, such as mixing in honey, sugar, salt water and even herbs and spices. One also has to consider that ancient Roman wines were far more alcoholic than modern table wine. From what we know about their partying habits, this should come as a surprise to know one.

Modern day Italian wines now run the gamut from the apex of global prestige to cheap bulk wine that’s maybe only steps away from what the Romans consumed. But they were on to something with the regional plantings. There are now twenty different regions, each with their own unique varietals and styles. Consider Nebbiolo, Barbera and Arneis of Piedmont. Sangiovese and Vernaccia of Tuscany. Garganega, Corvino, Molinara and Rondinella of the Veneto. Aglianico and Falanghina of Campania. Lagrein of Alto Adige. Nero d’Avola of Sicily. Lacrima in the Marche. Lambrusco in Emilia Romagna. And countless other grapes and their specific territories. Within Italy, perhaps more than any other powerhouse wine-producing country, each varietal, with few exception, has its own region, its sense of place. Home. Familia.

In the 20th century, much like the rest of Europe, regions were attributed specific label designations. The Italian system is as follows:

*VDT = vino de tavola

*IGT = Indicazione Geografica Typica (wine from a specific area, but may include a blend of grapes from different regions)

Pierangelo Tommasi is the Co-Proprietor and Export Director of Tommasi Viticoltori, a family-owned winery founded by his great-grandfather in 1902 in the heart of Italy’s Valpolicella Classico region in the Veneto. He is one of nine members of the four...

I was round at a mate’s house recently and he opened a bottle of Vin Santo. I’d forgotten how good this Italian sweetie is! Vin Santo is not so well known and is not cheap but boy, it is good! This unfortified sweet white wine is produced in the vineya...

Montalcino, a Tuscan town in Central Italy, is known for its superior wines. It is home to the highly extolled Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino, two Sangiovese grape-based wines of great renown. Both classifications (Brunello di Montalcin...

Sicily has a jaded reputation. Thanks to the illustrious movie making of Francis Ford Coppola, Americans have believed for decades that Sicily is mafia. Having visited Sicily twice I have yet to meet a Corleone. What I have experienced in Sicily is a c...

Sangiovese is touted as the most widely planted grape variety in Italy. It is most frequently associated with Tuscany; being the catalyst for Brunello, Chianti, and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano. However, Sangiovese is as much at home in Romagna as it i...

Americans seem to be growing in curiosity about Spain. Numbers indicate Americans traveling to Spain are on the rise each year, while at the same time Spanish restaurants and tapas bars are spreading across the United States. There is even a growing aw...

My admiration for Murrieta’s Well and their winemaker, Robbie Meyer, is no secret. I’m so glad that The Whip and The Spur are available at retail shops across the country, giving folks ample opportunity to experience these wines first-hand. The grape b...

According to the Wine Institute, in 2015, over 28 million liters of wine were produced by sixty-three different wine producing countries. There are currently 195 different countries in our world, which means that a whopping one third of it is making wi...

Just a few short weeks before Bordeaux En Primeur 2016, I found myself back in Bordeaux to re-taste the 2015 vintage. Bordeaux’s 2015 vintage is proving to be quite fascinating. Some are shouting from the rafters that it is the best vintage since 2010,...

Retailers report, and empirical evidence demonstrates, that Valentine's Day can be one of the busiest at wine and spirits retailers. Wine menu planning is a fun exercise but sometimes the rigors of workaday reality get in the way of our good time. The ...

Gorgeous fruit and spice aromas of black currant and black pepper are heady, warm and inviting. Wintry and spiced on the palate, this has drying earth notes of resinous toast and gripping tannins, plum and blackberry fruit and dark chocolate notes, lea...

Tart sour cherry and strawberry aromas with notes of dried garden herb and light toast. Creamy, refreshing and delicately flavorful on the palate while delivering a zesty fresh spice and bright acidity throughout - this is easy and approachable with no...

This bright-tasting pasta makes good use of radicchio and chard, two sturdy greens that are packed with vitamins and flavor. Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour. Notes: If you like your chard tender rather ... Read more »

These fun little breakfast nests will be a hit with the kids . The crispy hash brown nests go great with eggs and bacon . For a tasty addition to your Easter brunch or for other special occasions, ... Read more »

While most scone recipes are prepared as an accompaniment for afternoon tea or coffee, this savory variation, flavored with cheese and bacon, makes an excellent breakfast dish for people on the go. Read more »

Nose of old leather and dried flowers. Medium weight with light fruit, nice acidity and drying tannins on the finish.
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Wine review
by
RandyFisher

February 2018

Whole ____load of Italian whites tonight. Mostly Sicilian, Calabrian and ... ... ... What's with southern Italy throwing all these French grapes at us these days?Had a few reds, too, and the southern Italians again were throwing French (cabs and merlots) at us, though not too successfully. I voted for the Langhe nebbiolo on the red front (the ...
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As a long time fan of both Riunite's Lambrusco and the Rose, I figured this blend would be an easy win. Slightly crisp, certainly wet and sweet, the light wine rivals a white zinfandel in color as well as these characteristics. In flavour, something seems lost in translation as the two grape varieties conflict more than marry in taste. Hints ...
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Ripe floral cherry blossom and cranberry fruit, a touch of strawberry and mushroomed earth. This is pure, tart, refreshing with bold spice yet it carries appropriately delicate fruit notes of cherry, strawberry and red currant. Its also savory throughout, with mineral earthiness and a chewy tannic structure gripping the mid palate and holding th...
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Went out on a little wine buying trip while my wife went shopping for other ... ... the last one. From Italy it is made from the 3 main grapes of pre-1997 Amarone but released young. They've got plenty so if it's worth it I may buy more.The 2016 Cavalchina Bordolin
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So amazingly beautiful. Some great wines in locations of beauty. Please tell me how I can get a case of your wine bottles for a wedding design on tables. Prefer empty by Will buy with wine. Strawberry moscata pineapple . Thank you for all your assistance.

Comment
by
2180704Snoother 21807042180704

Jun 11, 2013

What I noted the last couple of years is that the price/quality from the southern regions of Italy are improving each year. Several small producers have invested in their infrastructure in are using wine experts to work on quality. Puglia, Campania, Sicily and Calabria are the regions to watch the coming years ...

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by
1296096NirvinoBe1296096

Feb 15, 2012

PASTA & WINE...
Pasta is very versatile with wine and it is the sauces you need to bear in mind. With tomato based dishes, fruity Italian reds such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or barbera make an excellent choice, as do many young sangiovese wines, including Chianti. With pesto go for a light, fresh white such as Verdicchio or pinot grigio and for...

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902305Baffetto de Roma902305

Apr 29, 2011

Hi hoping someone can help..in gthe late 1970's early 1980's Victoria Wines shops sold a white Italian wine called Tranimer..it was fruity and fragrent,soft and gentle to the taste with a smooth after taste. I ahve tries many Italian wines since but have yet to find one that is just so..even just talking about it I can taste it in my mouth lol. ...

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827015nunn827015

Mar 17, 2011

I'm going to be in Tuscany in September. Can you give me the names of some of the wineries that are open for tasting, tours, and purchasing.

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468011ssolot468011

Mar 10, 2011

I am looking for Benedetta Chianti 2008, can anyone help?

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794731Pam333794731

Mar 3, 2011

If it's a sangiovese grape it can't be wrong.

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364170tameekhenderson364170

Nov 21, 2010

THIS IS ONE MY WIFE'S FAVORITE WINES . THIS IS A WOMAN WHO DO NOT DRINK ALC. AND SHE HAS ASK TO BUY ANOTHER BOTTLE OF MARSALA SWEET WINE. THANK YOU